Recent progress in the assessment of mineral requirements of goats

Abstract

For a long time, mineral requirements of goats have been extrapolated from those of cattle and sheep. To date advances in goat nutritional research allow more specific mineral recommendations. Endogenous losses of calcium and phosphorus might be more related to dry matter intake than to the bodyweight. True absorption coefficient of P is probably higher for goats (70–75%) than for other ruminant species. Calcium and phosphorus requirements for pregnancy are higher because of the frequency of multiple foetuses. The requirements for growth are lower than for calves. Nevertheless, calcium and phosphorus content of goat milk (1.3 g Ca/l, and 0.9 g P/l, respectively) are very close to those of cow milk. A special attention must be given to sulphur according to fibre production needs. Several results indicate that goats are less sensitive to copper toxicity than sheep and cattle and can tolerate higher levels of Cu in their diets. Goats can also tolerate Mo levels 10 times higher than sheep. The goat sensitivity to iodine deficiency seems to be higher. Particular attention must be given to selenium and copper status of pregnant goats and/or new-born kids because of risk of white muscle disease or swayback.